ntg-mono

Aquatic physiotherapy at Palmerston Hospital

Aquatic physiotherapy is physiotherapy exercise completed in a hydrotherapy pool.

Palmerston Regional Hospital (PRH) has a hydrotherapy pool that is currently used for both inpatient and outpatient physiotherapy services.

The PRH hydrotherapy pool requires all aquatic physiotherapy to be overseen by an allied health professional, which can be a physiotherapist. These staff members are trained in pool rescue annually.

What aquatic physiotherapy involves

Aquatic physiotherapy may include one-to-one treatment or group classes and may be used alone or together with other rehabilitation practices.

A physiotherapist will work with you to create an individual treatment plan, which may include appropriate exercises in a hydrotherapy pool.

After being assessed and shown the appropriate exercises, the physiotherapist may give you a program you can do by yourself at another pool facility.

Who can use the PRH hydrotherapy pool

For health and safety reasons, the PRH hydrotherapy pool is only available to NT Health clients, and not for casual public use.

All clients in rehabilitation and Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) are able to access aquatic physiotherapy if:

  • it has been assessed as beneficial and appropriate by their physiotherapist
  • they are medically suitable to take part in aquatic physiotherapy.

6-week group outpatient program

There is a 6-week group aquatic physiotherapy program for outpatients with a referral from their health professional.

If you wish to take part, you will need:

  • a referral from your health professional
  • an suitability assessment, including a medical screen, by the Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital (RDPH) physiotherapy outpatient team.

There is a long waitlist for this program, so you will be limited to the 6-week program. Additional sessions are not offered once the program has finished.

Unless you have a clinical reason or new diagnosis, you will have to wait 12 months before getting a new referral.

Referrals for the program

Your health professional can send a referral to the RDPH outpatient physiotherapy team by emailing alliedhealthadmin.doh@nt.gov.au.

The team will assess your clinical need and determine whether aquatic physiotherapy is the most appropriate treatment. Referrals are placed into clinical priority category 1, 2 or 3, with 1 being the highest and 3 being the lowest.

There is a waitlist for patients wishing to access physiotherapy services at RDPH, including aquatic physiotherapy, with different wait times for each priority category.

Not all referrals to the program are assessed as appropriate.

Screening process

If you have been referred for aquatic physiotherapy, you will need a medical screen to assess your suitability.

This is to assess the physical risks of aquatic physiotherapy, as there are effects on the body from being in the water. This includes effects on the heart, lungs and kidneys.

There are also hygiene and infection prevention procedures that must be followed.

After the medical screen, the RDPH physiotherapy outpatient team might require further clearance from another medical practitioner. This may delay the start of the aquatic physiotherapy program.

There are some conditions that may mean that aquatic physiotherapy is not suitable for you and your treatment.

After the program

The outpatient aquatic physiotherapy service is a time-limited, goal-based program.

Due to the long waitlist for the program, additional sessions cannot be offered. Referrals back to the aquatic physiotherapy service within 12 months are not accepted, unless there is a new clinical reason or diagnosis.

The physiotherapist will advise you on options to continue their therapy following the finish of your 6-week program.

This might include independently completing the program at a community facility, land-based physiotherapy or a referral for a private physiotherapy service.

Other aquatic facilities in Darwin and Palmerston

There are 4 public pools available in Darwin and Palmerston.

Darwin

There are public pools in Parap, Casuarina and Nightcliff.

Each pool has a range of accessibility features to help people with all abilities to access the facilities.

This includes:

  • accessible parking
  • accessible toilets and change facilities
  • aquatic wheelchairs
  • pool hoists
  • ramps.

For more information, see the accessibility guides on the City of Darwin website.

Parap
77 Ross Smith Ave, Parap NT 0820
Monday to Friday, 5:30am to 7:30pm.
Saturday to Sunday, 8am to 7:30pm.

Casuarina
17 Gsell Street, Casuarina, NT 0810
Mon-Fri between 5:30am to 7:30pm.
Sat-Sun between 8am to 7:30pm.

Nightcliff
259 Casuarina Dr, Nightcliff NT 0810
Monday to Friday, 5:30am to 7:30pm.
Saturday to Sunday, 8am to 7:30pm.

Palmerston

SWELL Palmerston is a community pool that accessible facilities including:

  • parking
  • accessible change rooms
  • aquatic wheelchairs
  • ramp entry.

31 Tilston Ave, Moulden NT 0830
Monday to Friday, 5:30am to 8:00pm.
Saturday to Sunday, 7am to 9:00pm.

Darwin Private Hospital hydrotherapy pool

Darwin Private Hospital has a hydrotherapy pool as part of its rehabilitation facilities.

You can be referred to the Darwin Private Hospital rehabilitation services through a referral from through your health professional.

Private physiotherapy practices

There are several private physiotherapy providers who offer aquatic physiotherapy as part of their service.

Movement for Life Physiotherapy has a hydrotherapy pool on-site and offer aquatic physiotherapy, warm water exercise classes and drop-in sessions.